HC Deb 21 May 1975 vol 892 cc421-2W
Mr. Small

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list, for the Scottish region for the years 1965 to 1975, (a) the total annual capital expenditure on social services, (b) the total annual capital expenditure on services for the mentally ill within the social services provision and (c) the total annual capital expenditure on services for the mentally handicapped within the social services provision;

(2) if he will list, for the Scottish region for the years 1976 to 1980, (a) the estimated total capital expenditure on social services provision, (b) the estimated total capital expenditure on services for the mentally ill within the social services provision, and (c) the estimated total capital expenditure on services for the mentally handicapped within the social services provision.

Mr. William Ross

The table below shows total capital expenditure on social work from 1969–70 to 1975–76, at constant 1974 prices. Information is not available for any year before 1969, when the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 came into operation. The level of capital expenditure in the years from 1976–77 is being reviewed in the light of the savings in public expenditure announced in the Budget.

The table also shows capital expenditure on projects for the mentally handicapped or mentally ill in respect of which borrowing consents were issued up to 1974–75; outturn figures for such projects are not separately available. The projects included several day care centres for mentally handicapped children, the responsibility for whom has now been transferred to education departments. None of the projects was for the mentally ill. About a quarter of the social work building programme for 1975–76 is in respect of projects in the mental health field. This programme, which was essentially based on the submissions of the former social work authorities, will be subject to review by the regional and islands authorities.

Total Capital Expenditure £m. at 1974 prices Borrowing Consents for Projects for Mentally Handicapped
1969–70 3.6 0.8
1970–71 3.8 0.6
1971–72 3.9 1.0
1972–73 6.1 0.8
1973–74 6.2* 0.7
1974–75 5.5* 0.8
1975–76 6.9† —
* Provisional.
† Estimated.

Mrs. Bain

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what proportion of the total annual National Health Service capital expenditure in Scotland was spent on services for the mentally ill for the years 1965 to 1975;

(2) what proportion of the total annual National Health Service capital expenditure for 1965 to 1975 in Scotland was spent on services for the mentally handicapped.

Mr. William Ross

From 1964–65 to 1973–74—the latest year for which actual figures are available—about 11 per cent. of the total annual National Health Service capital expenditure in Scotland was spent on services for the mentally ill, and about 4½ per cent. on services for the mentally handicapped.

Mrs. Bain

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent on mental health after-care in Scotland in the past three years.

Mr. William Ross

This information is not available.